Astrium to Rocket Tourists into Space . . . by Jet
PARIS, June 14, 2007 - Satnews Daily - European satellite and rocket system maker Astrium has unveiled a revolutionary new aircraft/spacecraft for space tourism at a special event ahead of the Le Bourget Airshow in Paris. Development of this hybrid vehicle is expected to begin in 2008 with a first commercial flight possible by 2012.
The Astrium space jet, which externally resembles a corporate jet, is designed to travel 100 km into space giving its four passengers more than three minutes of "zero G" or weightlessness. It will take off and land conventionally from a standard airport using its jet engines. Once the craft is airborne at about 12 km altitude, however, the rocket engines will be ignited to give sufficient acceleration to reach 100 km. It takes the space jet just 80 seconds to reach 60 km altitude. The rocket propulsion system is then shut down as the ship’s inertia carries it on to over 100 km, where passengers will become part of an elite few (mainly astronauts) to experience zero gravity in space.
The pilot will control the craft using small rocket thrusters enabling passengers to hover weightlessly for three minutes and to witness the most spectacular view of Earth imaginable. After slowing down during descent, the jet engines are restarted for a normal and safe landing at a standard airfield. The entire trip will last about an hour and a half.
Astrium proposes using the one stage system that is considered the safest and most economical to operate. Development of the space jet able to operate at altitudes between aircraft (20km) and below satellites (200 km) could well be a precursor for rapid transport ‘point-to-point’ vehicles or quick access to space, opening up previously unexplored territory. Its development will contribute to maintaining and enhancing European competences in core technologies of space transportation.
Special guests to the Paris event were shown a full-size model of the cabin of the revolutionary craft with its unique interior by designer Marc Newson. The cabin features completely novel seats that balance themselves to minimize the effects of acceleration and deceleration, ensuring passengers are always in the best position to enjoy the flight.
Astrium has the necessary expertise and know how for manned space flight as it is the single industrial prime contractor for Ariane 5, the main European contributor to the International Space Station and a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, Europe’s largest aerospace company.
The project will be financed by private capital. The required investment, around $1.3 billion, could be completed by refundable loans and by regional development funding. Return on investment will come from operations of vehicles for the emerging and promising market of suborbital space tourism. The cost per flight per passenger would be around $203,000 to $270,000.
Astrium, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, had a turnover of $4.3 billion in 2006. It employs 12,000 persons in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. EADS is a leader in aerospace, defense and related services. In 2006, EADS generated revenues of $53 billion and employed a workforce of more than 116, 000.
